Hi! I am brand new to this forum & have questions about a dishware set my mom purchased yesterday at a tag sale. It is all white, octagonal, and stamped with green on the back "Independence Ironstone by Castleton China 1778." The set, 60+ pieces, includes everything from dinner plates to candlesticks to a soup toureen to platters. Most appear to be in perfect condition. A few do have crazing. I understand dishes with crazing aren't safe to eat off of.

I was wondering if anyone knows about this set, and what your feelings are on using it as everyday dishes for my family. I have two small children, and reading up on crazing I came across the idea of lead being in old dishes, which made me wonder if these dishes have lead in them.

Perhaps this more of a collector set that people show off rather than actually use? I just don't know. Thanks for any advice, or pointing me in the right direction. I haven't been able to find much by Googling.

Hi there and welcome to the group !! Sounds like you got quite a buy having that many !! Only way I would worry for me personally, is if the set were made anywhere other than the U.S. !! I have eaten off crazed dishes all my life and I have no problems at 62 years old !! But for safety since I have not heard of this company,, let me check !! Is that all it has on the back ??

http://www.replacements.com/mfghist/castleton.htm This gives you a short history of your china but they had none listed in your pattern for a price !! If I remember correctly yours would be made after 1936 !! In fact,, Former first lady Lady Bird Johnson used Castleton for her White House China !! This company also produced china for Haviland and Rosenthal since it was cheaper to have it made here than shipping from France !! I will try to find a date for your pattern !!

Another site said that if it is marked as "Castleton" it was made between 1948 and 1968 !! Some sites have some pieces with the Castleton name as made in Japan although it does not say that !! Castleton China was made in New York !!

From what I can find,, almost all dishes made in the US are safe !! The problem is not if lead was used in them because it likely was used in one of the hardening agents at approx same rate as is commonly found in soil !! The problem is with dishes that leach out the lead as dishes from China and some other countries do !! That leaching of the lead is what is dangerous for children and has been found to happen in imported dishes !! I would feel quite safe using your dishes for children !! I would not, however, put them in the microwave since they are probably not microwave safe !! Only paint I would not feel OK about using is anything with Cadmium Yellow in them !! Lead is used in making that color !! So if your plates are not a bright almost mustard yellow,, I think your fine !!

Hi, thanks for the replies! The label says they are made in Japan. I'm nervous about using them as my everyday dishes, as I microwave frequently. I also am afraid crazing will occur in modern dishwashers. Only one of the 11 dinner plates has crazing, but 7 of the small plates have crazing.I do think we got a very good buy, and perhaps I should think about selling them to save up for a new set for everyday use. Where would be the best place to advertise them, maybe Craigslists or eBay? Bummer tho b/c they are very beautiful.

The back says dishwasher proof which would mean its a newer reproduction !! Many times a company will do a popular pattern and make them again years later !! Castleton may have sold out to another company and that could be why they are now made in Japan !! That being said however,, I still would not be worried especially since it is newer !! PRC would be another matter,, I would not use those !! Japan is pretty much made by the same standards as U.S. china !! I have not heard anything about dishes from Japan !!

I am hoping that the conversation regarding Independence Ironstone dishes could continue. We just re-discovered my husband's grandma's Independence Ironstone white dishes that have been stored for years. Our set also has the green stamp on the bottom. However, the information is a bit different than the previous person's stamp. It states "Independence Ironstone Interpace Japan". There is not a date and Castleton is not stamped any where. We assume the dishes have to be at least 25 years.Does anyone know when these dishes may have been manufactured?Are they dishwasher safe and microwaveable?The various pieces have a lot of crazing as well.Thank you for any information you may have.Eagan